UV sterilization system and device and related methods

Abstract

A UV sterilization device may include a housing defining a cavity therein, and having a door configured to permit access to the cavity, and trays carried within the cavity, each tray configured to receive a mobile wireless communications device. The UV sterilization device may include UV CBAs carried within the cavity respectively adjacent the trays, each UV CBA having LED UV sources configured to irradiate the mobile wireless communications device with UV radiation. The UV sterilization device may include a controller configured to selectively power one or more of the UV CBAs for disinfecting the mobile wireless communications device.

That which is claimed is: 
     
       1. An ultraviolet (UV) sterilization system comprising:
 a server comprising a processor and memory coupled thereto; and 
 a plurality of UV sterilization devices, each UV sterilization device comprising
 a housing defining a cavity therein, and having a door configured to permit access to the cavity, 
 at least one tray carried within the cavity, each tray configured to receive at least one device, the at least one device including a radio frequency (RF) identification (ID) tag, 
 a plurality of UV circuit board assemblies (CBAs) carried within the cavity respectively adjacent said at least one tray, each UV CBA comprising a plurality of light emitting diode ultraviolet (LED UV) sources configured to irradiate the at least one device with UV radiation, 
 a transceiver configured to communicate with said server, 
 at least one RF transmitter configured to energize the RFID tag, and 
 a controller coupled to said at least one RF transmitter and configured to:
 identify the at least one device based upon an RF signal from the RFID tag, 
 determine a position and a number of the at least one device based upon the RF signal from the RFID tag, 
 selectively power at least one of said plurality of UV CBAs for disinfecting the at least one device based upon the identification of the at least one device, and so that unused trays from said at least one tray are not irradiated, and 
 send at least one status message to said server; 
 
 
 said server configured to
 provide a web interface portal for accessing respective status information for said plurality of UV sterilization devices. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The UV sterilization system of  claim 1  wherein each tray comprises a material transparent to UV radiation. 
     
     
       3. The UV sterilization system of  claim 2  wherein the material comprises quartz. 
     
     
       4. The UV sterilization system of  claim 1  wherein said controller is configured to selectively power the at least one of said plurality of UV CBAs when the at least one device is detected on a respective tray. 
     
     
       5. The UV sterilization system of  claim 1  wherein each UV sterilization device comprises a keypad carried on an external surface of said housing and coupled to said controller; and wherein said controller is configured to unlock said door based upon a code received from said keypad. 
     
     
       6. The UV sterilization system of  claim 1  further comprising a wireless base station; and wherein said transceiver comprises a wireless transceiver coupled to said controller and configured to communicate with said wireless base station. 
     
     
       7. The UV sterilization system of  claim 1  wherein each UV sterilization device comprises a positive air pressure source carried by said housing and configured to create positive air pressure in the cavity when said door is open. 
     
     
       8. An ultraviolet (UV) sterilization device comprising:
 a housing defining a cavity therein, and having a door configured to permit access to the cavity; 
 at least one tray carried within the cavity, each tray configured to receive at least one device, the at least one device including a radio frequency (RF) identification (ID) tag; 
 a plurality of UV circuit board assemblies (CBAs) carried within the cavity respectively adjacent said at least one tray, each UV CBA comprising a plurality of light emitting diode ultraviolet (LED UV) sources configured to irradiate the at least one device with UV radiation; 
 at least one RF transmitter configured to energize the RFID tag; and 
 a controller coupled to said at least one RF transmitter and configured to:
 identify the at least one device based upon an RF signal from the RFID tag, 
 determine a position and a number of the at least one device based upon the RF signal from the RFID tag, and 
 selectively power at least one of said plurality of UV CBAs for disinfecting the at least one device based upon the identification of the at least one device, and so that unused trays from said at least one tray are not irradiated. 
 
 
     
     
       9. The UV sterilization device of  claim 8  wherein each tray comprises a material transparent to UV radiation. 
     
     
       10. The UV sterilization device of  claim 9  wherein the material comprises quartz. 
     
     
       11. The UV sterilization device of  claim 8  wherein said controller is configured to selectively power the at least one of said plurality of UV CBAs when the at least one device is detected on a respective tray. 
     
     
       12. The UV sterilization device of  claim 8  further comprising a keypad carried on an external surface of said housing and coupled to said controller;
 and wherein said controller is configured to unlock said door based upon a code received from said keypad. 
 
     
     
       13. The UV sterilization device of  claim 8  further comprising a transceiver configured to communicate with a server; and wherein said transceiver comprises a wireless transceiver coupled to said controller and configured to communicate with the server via a wireless base station. 
     
     
       14. The UV sterilization device of  claim 8  further comprising a positive air pressure source carried by said housing and configured to create positive air pressure in the cavity when said door is open. 
     
     
       15. The UV sterilization device of  claim 8  wherein each CBA comprises a circuit board carrying said plurality of LED UV sources. 
     
     
       16. The UV sterilization device of  claim 8  further comprising a light louver carried by said housing and configured to permit air to flow out of the cavity. 
     
     
       17. The UV sterilization device of  claim 16  wherein said light louver comprises a plurality of interdigitated arms. 
     
     
       18. The UV sterilization system of  claim 1  wherein each CBA comprises a circuit board carrying said plurality of LED UV sources. 
     
     
       19. The UV sterilization system of  claim 1  wherein each UV sterilization device comprises a light louver carried by said housing and configured to permit air to flow out of the cavity. 
     
     
       20. The UV sterilization system of  claim 19  wherein said light louver comprises a plurality of interdigitated arms. 
     
     
       21. The UV sterilization system of  claim 1  wherein said plurality of LED UV sources is configured to perform 360 degree irradiation of the at least one device. 
     
     
       22. The UV sterilization device of  claim 8  wherein said plurality of LED UV sources is configured to perform 360 degree irradiation of the at least one device.